Death penalty repeal debate on hold in Colorado

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DENVER (AP) - Colorado's debate over repealing the death penalty will stay on hold, for now. A second legislative committee in as many days delayed consideration on proposals to do away with the death penalty.

Tuesday's delay came on a bill to ask voters whether the death penalty should be repealed. The bill is a rival to a separate measure to repeal the punishment outright.

The sponsor of the ballot measure is a death penalty supporter whose son was killed in 2005. Two men await execution in Colorado for his death.

Rep. Rhonda Fields says she put her ballot proposal on hold because she wants to see whether fellow Democrats move forward with the direct repeal. She says voters would keep the death penalty if given the choice.